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Many women live with harassment on a daily basis, often in transport or on the street, but also on vacation spots such as the beach. The city of Marseille has taken the initiative to launch an anti-harassment application specially designed for the beach.
Sunbathing, reading in the sun, sleeping at the beach, classic summer activities, but sometimes the fun is ruined. More than one in three women, aged between 18 and 34, has already been the victim of harassment at the beach, according to the city of Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), which has launched an application to denounce violence in real time. There are fifteen mediators working this summer to ensure that the beach remains a space for leisure and relaxation for everyone. A welcome initiative.
Mediators present on four city beaches
“We feel safer when we come to the beach and we feel less upset”says Luna. “I think it’s a good thing for women and girls who are alone on the beach and want to have a relaxing time and not be bothered”, continues Betty. To intervene, the mediators recruited by the city of Marseille have been trained by feminist associations. “It’s not a gimmick, we are really in the fight against sexism and sexual assault”, says Nathalie Tessier, municipal councilor for women’s rights. The device is present this summer on four Marseille beaches after a first successful test last year.